The United States Gemini Program
National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO)
Tucson, Arizona
June 25, 1999
The images were unveiled at the dedication of Gemini North, one of the largest telescopes in the world, near the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. Built by an international partnership of seven nations, it is the first of two 8-meter telescopes that together can explore the entire northern and southern skies in optical and infrared light. Its twin, Gemini South, is under construction on Cerro Pachon in northern Chile. They are expected to obtain unprecedented optical and infrared views of stars, galaxies and the most distant outposts of the known universe.
"The inauguration of this telescope marks a new era in our exploration of the heavens, and the United States is proud to be one of the leaders of that era," said Rita Colwell, National Science Foundation (NSF) director. "The Gemini project stands out as a model of collaboration, enabling scientists and engineers from seven nations together to achieve images of the universe that were unimaginable even a few years ago."
The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Australia, Brazil and Argentina are participating in the $192-million project. NSF will fund almost half the amount on behalf of the United States. NSF also serves as the executive agency for the international partnership.
The Gemini telescopes incorporate new technologies that allow large, relatively thin mirrors to collect and focus starlight with extraordinary precision. At infrared wavelengths, these technologies make it possible at times to achieve even more clarity than is possible with the Hubble Space Telescope. The observations will help astronomers make major advances in answering questions about how stars and planets form, the structure of the Milky Way and other galaxies, and the age and evolution of the universe.
"Gemini's innovative optics and thermal controls give these telescopes a significant edge in studying the universe using infrared light," said Matt Mountain, director of the international project. "The results we've seen today give us confidence that the risks we've taken will pay off for ground-based astronomers by providing extremely sharp images. This will allow us to look back in time to the most distant galaxies and even detect the trembling of individual molecules around newly forming stellar systems."
Gemini North is expected to start scientific operations by mid-2000, and Gemini South about a year later. They are the largest, most advanced telescopes available to U.S. astronomical researchers and students regardless of institutional affiliation. U.S. astronomers will receive almost half of the observing time on Gemini. Images and data from the Gemini telescopes will be available to astronomers around the world Through sophisticated computer technology and the Next Generation Internet.
The Gemini project is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), a non-profit consortium of 29 U.S. institutions and five international affiliates. For U.S. astronomers, the gateway to Gemini is the U.S. Gemini Program, a division of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO). NOAO is operated by AURA under a cooperative agreement with the NSF.
Corning
June 25, 1999
Gemini North, one of the largest telescopes in the world, was dedicated today while some of the sharpest infrared images of the universe ever obtained by a ground-based telescope were released by the U.S. Gemini Program. Corning, which participated in the dedication, produced the 8.1-meter primary mirror blank for the telescope. The reflector was manufactured by fusing hexagonal pieces of ULE=81 (Ultra Low Expansion) zero-expansion glass in a high-temperature furnace.
Built by an international partnership of seven nations, Gemini North, located near the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the first of two 8.1-meter telescopes that will explore the northern and southern skies in both optical and infrared light. Its twin, Gemini South, which will also use a Corning mirror blank, is currently under construction on Cerro Pachon in northern Chile.
The Gemini telescopes incorporate new technologies that allow large, relatively thin mirrors to collect and focus starlight with extraordinary precision. At infrared wavelengths, these technologies make it possible, at times, to achieve even more clarity than is possible with the Hubble Space Telescope. Gemini observations will help astronomers make major advance toward answering questions man has puzzled over for centuries -- how stars and planets form, the structure of the Milky Way and other galaxies, and the age and evolution of the universe.
Gemini North is expected to start operation by mid-2000, and Gemini South about a year later. The partnership is comprised of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Almost half of the $184-million project was funded by the United States.
Both Gemini mirror blanks were manufactured at Corning's Canton, N.Y., facility, then shipped via freighter to Paris, France for finishing. Corning has a long history of large telescope mirror blank manufacturing, having fabricated the largest mirror blank of its time for the Mt. Palomar Observatory in 1934. In 1994 Corning completed the world's largest (8.3-meter) mirror blank for the Subaru Telescope (Japan National Large Telescope).
Established in 1851, Corning Incorporated creates leading-edge technologies for the fastest-growing markets of the world's economy. Corning manufactures optical fiber, cable and photonic products for the telecommunications industry; and high-performance displays and components for television and other communications-related industries. The company also uses advanced materials to manufacture products for scientific, semiconductor and environmental markets. Corning's revenues in 1998 were $3.5 billion.
Additonal information about the Gemini Project is available at the U.S. Gemini Program webpage, or the Gemini Observatory Project webpage.
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